1 Bismack Biyombo
Center, Congo
If you’re scratching your head over this guy is, we don’t blame you. But the 6-foot-9, 240-pound center out of the Congo is just 18 years old, and he’s already taking the Spanish pro league by storm.
With Kendrick Perkins gone, it’s time to bring along a new franchise center … and Biyombo has that potential. He recorded the first ever triple-double (12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 blocks) at this year’s Nike Summit, and that’s just a taste. He’s regarded as an intense, extremely active defender with raw offensive talent.
2 Kenneth Faried
Forward, Morehead St.
Kenneth Faried’s senior season didn’t garner much national attention this year (he played for Morehead State), but he did pull down 17 rebounds in an NCAA tournament upset against Louisville.
On the season, Faried averaged 17.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.9 steals per game, and put nice games together against Florida and Ohio State. Standing at 6-foot-8, 225, Faried isn’t going to overpower many power forwards, and he won’t be a big impact player right away. He will, however, provide tons of energy off the bench. And he’s not afraid to work in the paint.
3 Justin?Harper
Forward, Richmond
Unlike the first two draft prospects, Harper has a relatively polished offensive game.
He’s a spot-up shooter who can hit 18-plus footers consistently, and his quick feet allow him to come off screens and beat defenders.
But Harper’s big body (6-foot-10, 225 pounds) and long range keep him farther away from the basket, therefore limiting his potential as a top-notch rebounder.
If he’s going to be a factor at PF in the NBA, he’ll need to bulk up — or be a really tall SF.
